Flying on tax dollars

Natural Resources Minister Zach Churchill, shown Feb. 26 in Shubenacadie, is defending the cost of a trip he took for an announcement related to the Nova Star ferry service. (FRANCIS CAMPBELL Truro Bureau)

Nova Scotia’s natural resources minister is defending the cost of a trip he took for an announcement related to the Nova Star ferry service.

Zach Churchill flew direct on Air Canada from Halifax to Boston on Nov. 17 before renting a car and driving to Portland, Maine, for a media event with the state’s governor and other dignitaries. Churchill returned the next day, after the event touting the new cruise ferry that sails between Portland and the minister’s home riding of Yarmouth.

The cost of the return plane ticket was $2,844.16.

Churchill said the flight was booked within three days of his departure.

“We didn’t have anyone representing us down there at the press conference and we decided at the last minute to book the ticket,” he said, adding that the plane was tiny, with just a single row of seats on either side.

“We just purchased a regular flight to Boston,” he said. “It’s an expensive run.”

For the purposes of comparison, Energy Minister Andrew Younger flew return from Halifax to Boston in December for the annual Christmas tree lighting celebration. His ticket cost $1,059.16. When Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell flew return to Boston in March for the North American seafood expo, his flight set taxpayers back $1,113.31.

Graham Steele, the former New Democrat economic and development minister, flew direct from Halifax to Portland last August for ferry business. That flight cost $1,017.28.

Cabinet ministers are bound by the same travel policy as other government employees. The policy states that when travelling by air, tickets booked should always be the cheapest possible option.

“Discount and reduced fares shall be selected rather than full-fare economy when these rates are available.”

Typically, ministers or a staff member in their office book their travel and then file expense claims for reimbursement.

Flying in a higher class would have to be specifically approved by a department head. Business-class flights can also be authorized if a flight lasts nine hours or more, with no stops between the scheduled departure and arrival times or with one or more intermediate stops without an overnight stay.

Churchill said he did not fly business-class to Boston.

“I don’t travel first-class and I wouldn’t travel first-class.”

His trip isn’t the only one that stands out when reviewing ministerial expense reports since the Liberals came to power last autumn.

Economic and Rural Development Minister Michel Samson’s executive assistant at the time went on a 10-day trade mission in February that cost taxpayers $9,231.12. Airfare for the trip from Halifax to Paris, Morocco, New York and back cost $6,627.51.

Samson, who was also on the trip, said the staffer’s ticket was booked “at the last minute” after learning that deputy minister Simon d’Entremont would be unable to join him. Samson said he was originally travelling to Morocco for meetings of the French parliamentarians association.

Government business in Paris, Morocco and New York was to maximize the value of the trip, he said. In Paris, he met with the Canadian ambassador, representatives from Michelin and people from Airbus Group, the parent company of Composites Atlantic.

“(In New York) I had meetings set up with (Nova Scotia Business Inc.) and some of the companies in the financial services that are here in Nova Scotia,” said Samson. While in the Big Apple, he also attended the Emmy Kids Awards to support a Nova Scotia company that was a finalist and eventual winner and to meet with industry players.

The heavy schedule necessitated staff support, he said. No one flew first-class and they did the best they could to keep costs down, he said.

Justice Minister Lena Diab’s return flight to Whitehorse, Yukon, last November for a meeting of the country’s justice ministers cost $2,759.21.